Integrating timer



United States Patent D 6 Claims. (Cl. 161-15) This invention relates to. a timing mechanism and more particularly to an integrating timing. mechanism which is responsive to changes inacceleration or deceleration of the timer.

It'is an object of this invention to provide a timing mechanism,` the normal run down period of which may be varied over a widerange in response to changes in acceleration to which the timer is subjected.

lt is another object of this invention to provide an acceleration responsive.k timer which will be sensitive to components of acceleration or deceleration in one direction but relatively insensitive to components of acceleration or deceleration in a transverse direction.

Itis' a further object of this invention to provide a timer of lthe type described which is compact and light weight in' design to permit efficient use. of limited space and which is simple in construction and operation utilizing a minimum of'parts and providing trouble free'service.

Other objects will bek in part obvious, and in part pointed out more in` detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an integrating timer constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 isa side view of the timer of Fig. l with a portion of th'e timer housing cut away; and

Fig.' 3' is a cross sectional end view of the acceleration responsiveportion of the timer of Fig. 1.

i Referringeto the drawings, the'acceleration responsive timer isfcomprisedof a rectangular frame 10 on one end f' ofwhichA `is-mounted in depending position by means of lscrewsfll'atnousing 12 containing a clockwork mecha.- nism 14. The clock mechanism, all the elements of which, for simplicity, yare notshown, is conventionally comprisedt'otanescapement 17 engaged by a verge 15, the rate of oscillating motion of ywhich is determined by an` elongated leaf type hairspringf 16 operativelyconnected` to. the shaft of the verge. The hairspring 16 is so `rdisposed that the majority of the oscillatingy portion of the spring extends outwardly and forwardly of the housing.

. The rframe 10 is provided with anA aperture!r 20 lwhich receives the downwardly struck end portion 25 or finger of a regulator lever 21. The end portion of the lever 21 is provided with a slot at 22 which slidably receives the hairspring 16, and thus provides a variable anchor for the end of the spring. The sides of the end portion 25 of the lever 21 are provided with notches at 23 and 24 which are engaged with the sides of the aperture 20 in order to guide the lever 21 as it is moved relative to the hairspring in a manner to be hereinafter described, to vary the effective length of the oscillating portion of the hairspring 16 and thus vary the period of oscillation of the verge 15. It can seen from the drawings that Mice as the lever 21 is moved-to the right or rear as viewed in Fig. 1, `the run downl period of the clock mechanism 14 will be decreased while the converse will be'trueif the lever is subsequently moved leftwardly or forwardly.

The relative location of the lever 21 with respect to the hairspring 16'is controlled by the weights 30-and 31 which are pivotally mounted on the side and end of the trame it? opposite theclock mechanism 14 by means of pins 35 between the frame 10 and a cover plate 32 which is maintained from the frame 10by the spacers 33 and 34. The spacers 33 and 34 also serve to limit the pivotal movement of the weights. The'pins 35 to which the weights are secured are provided with shoulders 37 and 3S-which engage the frame 10 and plate 32 to maintain the weights spaced from the frame and. plate to preclude frictionall Contact of the weights with the frame and cover plate. The inwardly extending weights 30 and 31 are symmetrical in shape and mounting having generally triangular planiforms and with their centers of rotation on the longitudinal centerline of the weights 'out offset outwardly from their center of gravity. For a purposel to be hereinafter explained. it is preferable to mount the weights for counter rotation and in order to provide a compact design it is preferred that major portion of one weight overlie the major portion ofthe other weight.

The' weights are provided with recesses 39 to reduce the overall height of the assembly and theinw'ardly. extendifngend portions of the weights are provided with anfa/rcuate surface 41 to prevent interference between they endv of one weight and the shoulder 420i the recess of theother weight.

An upwardly extending pin 45 is mounted in the weight 311fwith its longitudinal centerline in registry with the longitudinal centerlinel of the weight and eq'uidistant from thel pins 35. A roller 46-is rotatably mounted on the pin 45 and is received in and engaged by an elongated recess 47 in the underside of the weight 30. The center of the recess 47 is in registry with the center ofthe pin 45'. In this manner unitary movement of the weights 3) and 31 in opposite directions is provided for a purpose hereinafter explained.

A lever 48- is pivotally mounted onA the pin 45 intermediate the roller 46 and the weight 31. The lever 48fex tends rearwardlyand is provided at its rearwardlend with a tongue 49 which is received in a slot at 50 in-a U-shap'e'd flat spring 51. The legs of the spring151 are mountedby means such as the rivets 52 to the upwardly struckilan'ges 53 and S4 of the frame 10. The spring Elco-operates with-.the lever 4S to provide a means for determining -the extent'of pivotal movement of the weights 30fand 31 -for a given acceleration. The lever 48 is preferably of light weight as compared to the weights 30, 31 to minimize the effect of side forces on the weights. v

A downwardly'extending pin 58 is mounted in the weight 31 in alignment with the longitudinal centerline of theweight and adjacent the outer endof theweight opposite the pivot pin 35. Pivotally mounted on thepn 5S is the forward end of the, regulator lever 21 hereinbefore described as cooperating with the weights'f30, 31 to vary the effective period ofl oscillationA of thefhairspring' 16. The lever 21 is also preferably of light weight as compared to the weights 30 and 31 to minimize any effects of side forces on the weights. The lever 21 is mounted adjacent the outer end of the weight in order to obtain the maximum throw for any given amount of pivotal movement of the weight.

From the above it can be seen that as the timer is forwardly accelerated to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 the weights 30 and 31 will be pivoted clockwise and counterclockwise respectively against the face of the spring 51 to move the regulator lever 21 relative to the hairspring 16.

It is believed the operation of the acceleration responsive timer will be apparent from the above description and following explanation. The timer is designed to be responsive to acceleration forces directed along the longitudinal centerline of the frame 10. Assuming the timer to be moving to the left as viewed in Fig. l at a calculated normal acceleration rate the spring S1 and weights 30 and 31 are so selected with respect to the length of the hairspring 16 that the regulation lever 21 will be positioned relative to the hairspring at =a preselected point to the right of the position shown in Fig. l but somewhat to the left of the clock housing 12. If for any reason the rate of acceleration is increased or decreased the weights 30, 31 will cause the lever 21 to be moved to the right or left respectively to increase or decrease theperiod of the verge 15 and thus the speed of the clock mechanism 14. It has been found that with a timer constructed in accordance with this invention, variations of up to 30% may be obtained on the run down period of the timer.

The mounting of the weights 30 land 31 to provide counter-rotational movement results in the cancelling of the effect of any component of an accelerational force imposed on the timer except that component directed along the longitudinal centerline of the frame 10. It can be readily seen if a force normal to the path of movement is directed against the weight 30 to rotate the weight in a clockwise direction, this same force will also tend to rotate the weight 31 in the same direction. inasmuch as the weights are interconnected for unitary counter-rotation this tendency of movement of the weights will be cancelled out. v

The light weight of the levers 21 and 48 with respect to the weights assures that any forces on these levers will not significantly atect the run down period of the timer.

Thus it can be seen that there has been provided a timer having provisions whereby the period of run down of the timer is modied in response to changes in acceleration of the timer in one direction only.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the `above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic andspecific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

l. An integrating timer comprising an escapement having a-hairspring and means responsive to acceleration of the timer for varying the effective length of the hairspring comprising a weight mounted for movement in one direction in response to acceleration of the timer, biasing means urging the weight in a directionl opposite said one direction', and a linkage mounted at one end for movement with the weight in either direction of movement of the weight and slidably connected at the other end to the hairspring.

l 2. An integrating timer comprising an escapement having a hairspring, movable anchor means for one end of the hairspring, a pivoted weight mounted for pivotal movement in one direction in response to acceleration, a spring biasing the weight in a direction opposite to said one direction, and a linkage mounted at one end for movement with the weight in either direction of pivotal movement of the weight and connected at the other end for movement to the movable anchor means.

3. An acceleration response integrating timer comprising an escapement with an oscillating verge, an oscillating hairspring operatively connected to said v'erge, a regulator arm slidably engaged with said hairspring and mounted for movement relative to said hairspring to vary the effective length of the oscillatable portion of said hairspring, a pair of interconnected symmetrical weights eccentrically mounted for counter-rotational movement in response to accelerating biasing means to regulate the position of said weights in relation to the degree of acceleration imposed on said timer, and connecting means to move said regulator lever relative to said hairspring in response to movement of said weights.

4. An acceleration responsive integrating timer comprising a frame, a clockworks mounted on the frame, a hairspring forming a part of the clockworks having a free end portion extending linearly outwardly of the clockworks, a pair of interconnected weights pivotally mounted on the frame for counter-rotational movement responsive to acceleration, a lever slidably mounted on the frame having one end connected to the weights and having its other end slidably embracing the free end portion of the hairspring, and means biasing the weights in one direction.

5. An acceleration responsive integrating timer comprising an elongated frame, a clockworks mounted on one end of the frame having a leaf type hairspring extending longitudinally of the frame, a pair of overlying symmetrical weights pivoted at the opposite end of the frame for pivoting movement responsive to acceleration longitudinally of the frame, a pin and slot connection between the weights, a U-shaped spring mounted intermediate the clockworks and pivoted weights, a linkage between the pin and the spring, and a link connected at one end to one of the weights remote from the pivot thereof and having its other end mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the frame, said other end being slotted to slidably embrace the end of the hairspring.

6. An integrating timer comprising an escapement having a hairspring, a slide on one end of the hairspring for varying the effective lengththereof, a pair of pivoted weights mounted for rotation in opposite directions in response to acceleration of the timer in a predetermined direction, a spring biasing the weights in a direction opposite said predetermined direction, a linkage mounted at one end for movement with said slide, and means connecting the other end of the linkage for movement with both of said weights.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 156,647 Muchin Nov. 10, 1874 255,909 Asher Apr. 4, 1882 1,280,508 McHenry Oct. l, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS 81,336 Switzerland Nov. l, 1919 

